25 replies to this topic

[minijo]

I'm looking at getting the front end on one of the minis replaced. Does anyone know if OLD SKOOL MINI PARTS are on here, what their work is like or anything else about them. Only because it is quite far to go and leave my mini! (have had garages pinch stuff from my mini whilst in their care before...made me nervous!)

[Shifty]

Heard nothing but good things about them.

Gottadesigners mini has been done by them and matminicitys, both speak very highly of them.

Haven't seen Matts car in the flesh yet, but gottas is Mint!!

[GottaDesigner]

^^ OldSkool won't do you wrong, parts or repair work. They're top rate guys.

[Shifty]

I knew you'd be around before long!!!

[GottaDesigner]

Who, me?

[matminicity]

My front end was replaced by the guys at Old Skool a couple of months ago and it is now A1
Not cheap by any stretch of the imagination but you get what you pay for.
It's a long way from where you live - is there no where nearer to you who people could recommend?

Dont worry shifty - you'll see her soon enough!!!
You may well have seen her on display at Himley without realising it

[minijo]

Thanks

[shorty]

good company

getting sill and floorpan done by them as soon as i book it in

and mats mini looks the dogs dangly bits they did a nice job on it

[MiniMonty]

This is just a personal opinion.

I've had a few things done at Old Skool and there are two things to say.

1) they certainly do know Minis.
2) the price they quote (promise) you is actually half of what you will finally pay.

This has happened to me three times and although their work is good and they know Minis backwards
I'm just offended by their approach of "it will be £250" and then when you go to collect "it will be £600".
A pair of brothers run the firm and they play 'good cop bad cop' very effectively.

I won't knock them because they do fantastic bodywork and they are well thought of on this forum and on
the Mini scene generally - but... my personal experience of them is not good, I think they are very good at finding
'extra' stuff that needs doing and when they did my suspension recently they (somehow) discovered all kinds of things
in the engine bay that needed replacing and renewing. No phone call to ask if I wanted it done, no phone call to discuss it
with me - I just went to collect and was presented with a bill for a load of work I hadn't wanted and hadn't authorised.
Quote was £275.
When I arrived to collect I was asked to pay £590

When I simply refused to pay the extra money some pretty bad vibes kicked off and I'm glad I'm a tall bald cockney and not easily
intimidated by five guys holding spanners and shouting.
I'll say no more.
No extra money changed hands...

They've recently moved from some pretty nice premises in Birmingham to the wrong end of town and why this is is anyone's guess.

If I can make a recommendation it would be "Collins Motoring Services" (only a couple of miles away in Birmingham - just google it)
who are genuinely good, have their own rolling road, who race Minis in their spare time, can tune your engine within an inch of it's life,
who are honestly passionate about YOUR Mini. Having found them after a few "fifty-fifty" experiences with Old Skool I'll never go anywhere else.

On balance I would warn you against Old Skool as I personally wouldn't trust them to replace a bicycle chain without finding two hundred
quids worth of exrtas you'll never be warned about.

Best wishes
Monty

Edited by MiniMonty, 08 June 2009 - 01:56 AM.

[silva_mini]

Mine's there having its sills done at the moment :S

matminicity, did you encounter any payment/quote problems like Monty's???? ^^

[GottaDesigner]

This is just a personal opinion.

I've had a few things done at Old Skool and there are two things to say.

1) they certainly do know Minis.
2) the price they quote (promise) you is actually half of what you will finally pay.

This has happened to me three times and although their work is good and they know Minis backwards
I'm just offended by their approach of "it will be £250" and then when you go to collect "it will be £600".
A pair of brothers run the firm and they play 'good cop bad cop' very effectively.

I won't knock them because they do fantastic bodywork and they are well thought of on this forum and on
the Mini scene generally - but... my personal experience of them is not good, I think they are very good at finding
'extra' stuff that needs doing and when they did my suspension recently they (somehow) discovered all kinds of things
in the engine bay that needed replacing and renewing. No phone call to ask if I wanted it done, no phone call to discuss it
with me - I just went to collect and was presented with a bill for a load of work I hadn't wanted and hadn't authorised.
Quote was £275.
When I arrived to collect I was asked to pay £590

When I simply refused to pay the extra money some pretty bad vibes kicked off and I'm glad I'm a tall bald cockney and not easily
intimidated by five guys holding spanners and shouting.
I'll say no more.
No extra money changed hands...

They've recently moved from some pretty nice premises in Birmingham to the wrong end of town and why this is is anyone's guess.

If I can make a recommendation it would be "Collins Motoring Services" (only a couple of miles away in Birmingham - just google it)
who are genuinely good, have their own rolling road, who race Minis in their spare time, can tune your engine within an inch of it's life,
who are honestly passionate about YOUR Mini. Having found them after a few "fifty-fifty" experiences with Old Skool I'll never go anywhere else.

On balance I would warn you against Old Skool as I personally wouldn't trust them to replace a bicycle chain without finding two hundred
quids worth of exrtas you'll never be warned about.

Best wishes
Monty

I simply can't believe that of them... not that I'm saying you're lying, of course - anyone's capable of dodgy dealings, some moreso than others though. I've never heard the like concerning Paul & Roy or heard them titled as 'rip-off merchants' or similar. I know they can be temperamental at times, but typically fair's fair. You ask, it gets done. They find something else seriously askew, they let you know and ask if you'd like it sorted out.

I've used them several times and wouldn't go anywhere else this side of the city due to their exceptional knowledge of Minis and the excellent service I've always had from them. As for the 'moving to the wrong end of town' idea, they're literally 10mins away from the old place. It's a smaller unit, they pay less rent. Simple as that. (That's from Roy) It's an industrial area, it's not going to be like the Ritz. *shrugs*

[MiniMonty]

I probably over stated the case a bit and I don't want to put anyone off using them because all the
work they've done for me has been very good - but that experience left a bad taste in the mouth.

Best wishes
Monty

[silva_mini]

I'm looking at getting the front end on one of the minis replaced. Does anyone know if OLD SKOOL MINI PARTS are on here, what their work is like or anything else about them. Only because it is quite far to go and leave my mini! (have had garages pinch stuff from my mini whilst in their care before...made me nervous!)

I know its a bit of a mission for you, but pop down and have a chat and take a look round first, you dont HAVE to leave the mini there

When I went down the first thing I saw was a guy working on a flip fronted mini getting the wiring loom sorted on a k-series engine that was already fitted (my kind of mini place ). I also saw two shells, a clubman and a van, one painted one wasnt, both looked stunning, welding and panel work was spot on. After that I deceided id seen enough, they got the work I needed doing.

If you do go to see them, you might aswell go to Collins in Erdington aswell. Old Skool seem to have a lot of work on at the moment (which is never a bad sign ), be prepared for a bit of a wait though.

[shorty]

they wait isnt that long i don't think

they said they could do my sills and floor pan in a week
which reminds me i must ring up now and book it in

[silva_mini]

they wait isnt that long i don't think

they said they could do my sills and floor pan in a week
which reminds me i must ring up now and book it in

Mines been there two weeks this coming wednesday, but in fairness, their welding guy had to have an op on his hand during the first week Plus there were a lot of minis on site before mine, so just got to be patient